By Ralph Beauchamp

Joshua Radin is a new age troubadour. The world-renowned singer/songwriter left behind his house and all his worldly possessions to become a musical nomad. He returns to the US for a short run of dates including performing at StageOne at FTC in Fairfield, Ct. on 4/5.

Radin just released new material. His two 2023 EPs Though The World Will Tell Me So (Vols 1 & 2) are testaments to his defiance of the traditional norns society places on people in order to control the narrative. Radin uses the new found insights experienced through his travels to forge his own story which, in turn, he employs to craft poignant and refreshing music. Music that his listeners can totally relate to.

Joshua left his material existence behind and traveled to Europe with nothing but a backpack, guitar, and pen and paper. He expounds:

“I felt like I was going to live the life of a kid on a gap year after high school.” Recorded in places like Stockholm, Paris, and Lisbon, the new material finds Radin rebelling against the world’s expectations of him and how we’re told things are supposed to be. “We’re always being told different things depending on which country we’re in and what corporation is in control,” he notes. “So the more regions I travel to, the more different experiences I’m going to have. I’ve realized my soul is aided by hopping on a different train and not knowing the destination. Every day is like a clean slate.”

Joshua took time from his glorious travels to give AMP this interesting conversation while in Argentina.

AMP: What inspired you to become a musicians?

JOSHUA: A bad breakup with a woman I had a relationship with for six years. It was my first real girlfriend and eventually we got to that comfortable stage where the passion dies down. I had never been in a long term relationship before, so I didn’t know how to end it like an adult. I kept all those feeling inside that should have been let out.

During that time I was writing screenplays and everytime I couldn’t figure out what one of the characters would say, I would pull out this guitar I had just brought. I taught myself a few chords and I found it to be extremely meditative. It would help open my mind. Inevitably, I would find the dialogue I needed. Then very quickly this hobby became a career and I followed that path organically.

AMP: How would you describe your sound?

JOSHUA: It depends on who I am talking to. I travel all over the world and people are always asking me what I do. When I say I’m a musician, they ask me what I sound like. I have different answers for each situation. Since you are a music journalist, I’ll say I was highly influenced by the music my parents had on in the car when I was young which was an oldies station.

AMP: What sparked your decision to leave all your worldly possessions and become a traveling troubadour?

JOSHUA: A lot of it was due to the pandemic. I was alone in my house in L.A. for so long without seeing anybody, and even though I like being alone, this was way too much. I also found myself escaping into retail therapy with Amazon. It would be like four in the morning and I would be buying something I totally didn’t need. It was like it was always Christmas. In addition, I was already getting tired of L.A. So, when I was able to leave, I knew I had to get out of there.

Eventually I had an epiphany and realized that I needed life experiences instead of material things. So, I’ve been travelling the globe with a guitar and a suitcase for about two years now. I like to say I’m houseless not homeless.

AMP: Working in the same vein, you have extensively toured the world. Are there and particular shows that stand out?

JOSHUA: Oh wow! After 20 years, there have been a ton. If I’m honest about it, I find the shows that turn out the best are the ones I fear are going to be the worst and that happens quite a lot. It’s like when a promoter comes up to me, right before I hit the stage, and says the house is only 80% full. All of a sudden I find myself feeling insecure and bummed out that it isn’t sold out. It’s usually those shows that exceed my expectations.

I’ve learned my lesson. It doesn’t matter if there are 5 or 5,000 people in the audience, you give it your all. Those gigs where you are in a strange city in a foreign country and people really don’t know you just happen to be the most fun. You feel very free.

AMP: Your new project, Though The World Will Tell Me So Vols 1 & 2 is impressive. Do you feel it’s an evolution in musical style from your previous material?

JOSHUA: I feel like I’ve changed music forever (laughing). Did you ever see that Judd Apatow movie, This Is 40? Do you remember the interview with Graham Parker when he is asked if his new album sounds different from his last ones and he answers “it doesn’t”? It’s a cheeky response but I can relate to it. In reality, I really don’t know how to answer that question. To me, I just sound like me.

AMP: What kind of themes do you embed in your music?

JOSHUA: For me, It’s all about love. Either falling in or falling out. That’s what inspires me. My heroes like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell were very political and even though I’m moderately into politics, it’s still all about the idea of love.

AMP: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

JOSHUA: Maybe Bach. They say never meet your heroes and I did have the opportunity to meet Dylan once but I shied away because I rather keep him on pedestal. I would really love to write a song with him but only if I knew he was being magnanimous that day.

AMP: You are friends and went to college with Zach Braff. What’s the worse trouble the two of you were ever in?

JOSHUA: Oh man! There is no way I’m going to tell you. That’s going to stay in the vault. You can’t be friends with famous people and reveal secrets. It’s the easiest way to lose your buddies.

AMP: What’s next for Joshua Radin?

JOSHUA: I’m in beautiful Buenos Aires right now in an incredible bookstore. I love bookstores. In a few days, I’m off to Antarctica for the first time to explore somewhere new. I’m trying to meet some penguins.

AMP: Any last works of advice?

JOSHUA: Stay curious! That should be a beer commercial; “Stay curious my friends”.

To learn more about Joshua Radin, check out their website

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